The Path We Choose

Prologue

"And now," Iroh spoke in a tone that was somehow gentle and firm at the same time, as if taking him by the hand and guiding him, "You have come to the crossroads of your destiny. It's time for you to choose." Choose? Zuko couldn't quite grasp what he was saying, feeling a flood of emotions. Choose what? "It's time for you to choose good."

Hadn't he been following the road to good this whole time? Everything he'd learned form the Fire Nation had told him that yes, he was, but over the past few months, with his uncle, he had slowly begun to doubt himself. Was what he was doing right?

Zuko didn't have any more time to consider. He let out a surprised gasp as he suddenly heard a crack and the ground shook beneath them. It nearly knocked him down, and when he gained his balance again, he saw Iroh trapped between the glassy, green crystals that were all around them, illuminating the gave. Realization hit him and he quickly put his hands up for a fight, immediate instincts telling him to protect his uncle, the man who had been like a father to him these past three years, and perhaps even before that, when his mother had disappeared.

Zuko tensed as Azula calmly followed the Dai Li agents, looking calm and collected as always. "I expected this kind of treachery from uncle. But Zuko..." She began to step forward and Zuko slowly lowered his arms, realizing that she was just taunting him now. She wasn't planning to attack... yet. "Prince Zuko," she corrected himself. Zuko almost cringed. "You're a lot of things! But you're not a traitor... are you?"

No, he wasn't. Zuko's chest clinched. He wasn't a traitor. There was no honor in such a thing. But Zuko didn't answer to that. He'd learned long ago that if you fell for Azula's taunts, you would get burned... quite literally. "Release him immediately!" he ordered instead, fighting the urge to glance back at his uncle. His uncle who had cared for him when no one else had. He was not a traitor.

"It's not too late for you Zuko," Azula pointed out. "You can still redeem yourself." Zuko's eyes widened.

"The kind of redemption she offers is not for you!"

Zuko's heart pounded as he heard his uncle's voice. This reminded him of a dream he'd had only days ago, when he had been running that fever. He could easily picture Azula's cold, calculating eyes on the body of the blue dragon that tried to gently coax him to sleep. And his uncle's strength in the voice of the red dragon, that pushed him to stay awake, to fight the darkness that was trying to devour him whole.

"Why don't you let him decide, Uncle?" Azula fixed her gaze on him, those eyes gently coaxing. "I need you Zuko. I've plotted every move of this day. This glorious day in Fire Nation history... and the only way we win is together." She was coaxing him to close his eyes. "At the end of this day, you will have your honor back. You will have father's love." Rest, Fire Lord Zuko... Sleep... "You will have everything you want."

"Zuko..." His uncle's voice was softer, but the strength in him remained. The strength that had held him up every time he threatened to fall. "I am begging you..." Zuko felt his hands trembling. Begging. The great General Iroh was begging him... He hesitantly looked at his uncle, meeting the gentle, supportive gaze. "Look into your heart and see what it is that you truly want..."

"You're free to choose," Azula agreed cooly, waving away the Dai Li agents... They were gone. Azula believed that his mind was already made up, or she would not have taken such a risk. She turned her back to him, walking away.

Zuko bowed his head. What did he want?

"Please Zuko..."

The words were barely audible, so quiet that perhaps he wasn't even supposed to hear them. His uncle pleaded with him. Zuko wanted more than anything to be accepted by his father... But was it worth it? Zuko slowly met Iroh's gaze.

He was not a traitor.

Zuko ran, able to feel the earth shake with the battle that commenced. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He could do this. When he saw them, he narrowed his eyes. They were getting ready to face off. With so many pent up emotions, he threw a blast of fire that nearly exploded in it's heat, landing right between them. All eyes turned to him, waiting for his next move. Azula looked so calm, so sure...

His eyes turned to the Avatar. He was weary... weary but hopeful...

Zuko narrowed his eyes. The Avatar tensed up in alarm, sure he was going to be attacked. Zuko through a blast of fire. Azula jumped back in shock as it flew toward her, ducking out of the way. Aang and Katara's eyes both went wide before realization dawned on them.

"Wrong choice, Zuko!"

Blue flames shot his way and Zuko had to bend back to avoid them, his breath catching in his throat as he felt their heat so close to his face, threatening to melt his skin away. When he straightened himself again, a blast of fire came his way and he closed his eyes, sure it was going to get him this time... but it never came, a heavy hiss filling the cavern. Opening his eyes, he realized that it was the Water Tribe girl. She sent him a smile.

Zuko didn't have time to return it. Azula rushed at her, aiming a kick at her stomach, flames following. The avatar airbended, the winds catching the blue flames and blasting them right back at Azula. She hissed, stepping away and gritting her teeth.

"You'll never get your honor back now, Zuko," she pointed out, panting softly.

Zuko clenched his fists, ignoring her words. They had her out-matched. They might actually win this... As quickly as that thought came to his mind, it was wiped away again when the earth trembled around them, nearly knocking them over. Dai Li agents began to pour into the cavern. Zuko backed up, moving instinctively closer to his new allies as they did the same until all of their backs were pressed together.

Aang's eyes went wide. "There's too many..." He glanced to the side, frowning. "I'm sorry Katara."

Katara looked at him, furrowing her brows. "Aang, what-?"

He stepped away, encasing himself in crystals.

"What's he doing?" Zuko demanded, glancing at the water tribe girl. Now was not the time to hide.

"I don't know," she answered, eyes moving around, watching the Dai Li. Then the glowing started. Everyone fell silent as they watched, not entirely sure of what was going to happen. The avatar lifted from the crystals, eyes and tattoos glowing. He was in the avatar state!

Zuko glanced around again. His eyes widened as his gaze fell on Azula. Those calculating eyes were narrowed. Two fingers moved in the air, collecting the energy.

"No!" Zuko rushed forward, remembering the technique that his uncle taught him. He grabbed hold of Azula's fingers. Her eyes widened a split second. Zuko traced the path of energy, along his arm, from his shoulder through the stomach and, aiming at the mass of Dai Li agents. Several of them cried out in pain, not expecting the sudden attack.

Katara's eyes went wide. "Zuko, you did i-!" her sentence cut of as she saw his body jerk. Zuko gasped sharply, feeling the electricity in one sharp, burning pain in his chest. He fell, hitting the ground.

Aang's glowing eyes narrowed. With something akin to a roar, he raised an arm and with it the earth trembled. Crystals shot from the ground, crushing the Dai Li agents. Azula gritted her teeth, moving her fingers through the air agian. Before she could strike, a blast of fire stopped her. She stumbled back and growled as she realized who it was.

"Uncle!"

Iroh glanced at the body of his nephew, his heart clenching. "Come, we must get out of here!"

Aang lifted his fingers and water from the cavern rushed toward Azula, followed by a layer of crystals that she couldn't melt away. With the threat gone, Aang closed his eyes, falling.

"Get the Avatar!" Iroh ordered. Katara obeyed immediately, running and falling into a slide in order to catch Aang before he hit the ground. Iroh scooped up his nephew, clutching him close to his chest. "Hold on my nephew," he murmured.